Protractor-rule.



PATBNTED OCT. 3l, 1905.

C W LINES PROTRAGTOR RULE.

APPLICATION FILED 1350.29, 1904.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLESVM. LINES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN H. JAOHENS, OF NEIN YORK, N. Y.

PROTRACTOR-RULE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1905.

Application filed December 28, 1904. Serial No. 238,563.

.the city of New York, borough of Manhattan,

in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Protractor- Rule, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to combination-rules and protractors, and has for its principal object the provision of a simple organization which may be effectively used to perform both functions.

It consists in the various features and combinations hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 shows one embodiment of my invention in top plan view and in position for use as a square. Fig. 2 is a similar view, enlarged, of the central portion of the device, which is set at another angle. Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, the rule-sections being closed and the connecting-blade shown in elevation. Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sections on the lines 4 4 and 5 5, respectively, of Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the clamping-screw and its nut. Fig. 7 shows in broken side elevation the central hinged portion of the rule; and Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but with the device set at an angle of one hundred and thirty-five degrees.

A rule A is here illustrated, this being of the ordinary fourfold type, having central sections 10 and 11, connected by ahinge 12, and outer sections 13 and 14, hinged to the central sections at 15 15. This riile may be graduated as iscustomary. The section 10 is shown in Fig. 7 as thinner than its companions, there being a depression at its inner side preferably extending for its full length, and in this depression is mounted a connecting member or blade 1'6. Through the blade are longitudinal slots 17 and 18, which receive projections from the section 10. One of these projections may consist of a pin or somewhat loose rivet 19, having its outer head 20 countersunk in the rule-section, while its inner head 21 is inclined to iit the slot 17, similarly beveled at 22, so that it lies iiush with the surface of the blade, which is also in the same plane as the adjacent sections when the rule is open. The other projection co operating with the slot 18 is shown as in the form of a clamping-screw 23, which engages a nut 24, sunk in a recess in the outer side of thesection 10. This screw preferably has a flange 25 extending out side the blade-slot, and a head or finger piece 26, by which it may be turned, there conveniently being a transverse slot 27 in this head for engagement by a screw-driver, if it be desired to so operate it. In the section 13 there may be formed a recess 27, within which the head of the clamping-screwmay lie when the rule is closed. From the slots 17 and 18 are lateral openings, one of which, 28, is of considerable length and extends at right angles from the main slots toward the inner edge of the blade, while the opposite opening 29 need only be of such length as to properly admit the projections from the section. From the inner end and side of the blade is an extension 30, which lies within a recess 31 in the section 11, this corresponding in depth to the depression of the section l0. The extension is provided with a pin or projection 32, operating in a slot or groove in the section 11', this groove having portions extending in different directions, one portion 33 being located longitudinally of the section, while the other portion 34 is curved about the pin of the hinge 12, it being preferably substantially concentric therewith. One of the divisions (that indicated by Fig. 2, for example) upon the section 10 may serve as an indexmark, while in proximity to this, upon the blade, is a suitable scale y, graduated in degrees conveniently in intervals of iive between 0 and 1 80 and extending along the edge of the blade adjacent to the section.

When the projections from the section 10 are within the openings 28 from the longitudinal slots, the rule may be folded in the usual manner, the projection 32 moving through the groove in the section 11, If it is desired to use the device as a square, the blade is slipped outwardly until the proj ections are situated within the openings 29. At this time the projection 32 is within the straight portion 33 of the section-groove, and its engagement with the side walls of said groove holds the rule-sections at ninety degrees to one another. The parts may be locked in this position by the clamping-screw. For any intermediate angle it is only necessary to move the blade so that the section IOO IIO

projections lie within the slots 17 and 18. Then the rule-sections may be swung in either direction and set by means of the scale and index-mark and there clamped by the screw. This permits the use of the instrument for such purposes as the laying out of hip and valley rafters, and it Will be seen that its many capabilities render it extremely convenient for carpenters and other Workmen.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent` l. The combination with a rule having hinged sections, of a member connecting the sections and extending longitudinally of one of them in all positions of the rule, said member and one of the sections being provided With a pin-and-groove connection, and means for iixing the connecting member to another section.

2. The combination with a rule having hinged sections, one of which is provided with a groove, of a member extending longitudinally of and being mounted for bodily movement upon another section and having a projection extending into the groove.

3. The combination with a rule having hinged sections, one of which is provided With a groove and another of which has a projection, of a member having a projection extending into the section-groove and a slot coacting With the section projection.

4. The combination With a rule having hinged sections, one of Which is provided with a groove and another of Which has a proj ection, of a member having a projection extending into the section-groove and a slot coacting with the section projection, said slot having a lateral opening to receive the proj ection.

' 5. The combination with a rule having hinged sections, one of Which is provided with a groove and another of Which has a proj ection, of a member having a projection extending into the section-groove and a slot coacting With the section projection, said slot having oppositely-extending lateral openings to receive the projection.

6. The combination with a rule having hinged sections, one of which is provided with a groove, of a member mounted for bodily movement upon another section and having a projection extending into the groove, one of said sections and the associated member being provided With an index-mark and a scale of angles extending along the edge of the element upon which it is inscribed.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specication in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES WM. LINES.

W'itnesses:

JNO. M. RITTER, SYLvANUs H. COBB. 

